Montgomery Ward War Department Checks

I have fond memories of Woolworths. When we were kids, mom used to take us on the bus (she didn't drive) to our doctors appointments in town. Afterward, we would go to Woolworths, rummage around the aisles of toys, and and then have pie at the lunch counter. It was quaint - something from a bygone era.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Sears tools - Craftsman stood for quality. I have a number of power tools that were my grandfathers that he purchased maybe 45-50 years ago that are still soldiering on and still look good. Of course they are heavy - they were made of metal and not this plastic. They were made by American workers and not some overworked and underpaid slave labour in the Far East. Nowadays you can go into Sears and find myriads of junk. They do not even stand behind their hand tools with lifetime warranties anymore. I have a few handtools in my tools that were my great great grandfather's - they are darned near 100 years old and I still USE them. I wanted to collect them and put them on display but I got lectured by my grandfather that tools were made to use. So use the woodplanes and Model T wrenches I still do.

 

Used to call them Monkey Wards

 

My first retail job was with Sears back in 1972. Made $2.00 an hour working in shipping and receiving. Worked for them for almost 8 years while going to college and raising a family. Left in 1980 to go to work for Wards. When I left Sears I was a salesman in the automotive department and was told by the Auto Center Manager they really didn't have anything to offer me for the BBA I earned while I worked there, "good luck", and that he would rehire me if I wanted my old job back. I went to work for Wards as a tire salesman on commission. 2 years later I was the Automotive Center Manager, and the 4th ranking staff member at the store. So while I learned retail at the "academy", I made retail at Wards. Being bigger isn't always being better. Funny thing was, I then had the same job and title as the ACM at Sears who didn't think I would go anywhere. I left than job in 1985 for a better opportunity, but I still have fond memories and that company and was sorry to see them go.

 

My addition to the MW saga: Here in Portland, OR the old Montgomery Ward distribution center is still standing. It was purchased back in the '80s and eventually converted to high rent office space. The new owners decided it was more cost effective to keep the large roof sign mostly intact, and altered just two letters. Thus we now have the Montgomery Park building.